Efficiency in the workplace is critical to business success and growth. Where employee workspaces are uncomfortable, stressful, noisy, dim, or disorganized, staff satisfaction tends to plummet, along with efficiency and output.
While interpersonal relationships will also have a significant impact on staff contentment, there are specific office space designs that encourage more social connection, while others encourage complete focus by keeping employees in their partitioned cubicles.
Rather than placing your attention on the employees’ seating arrangement, why not take a look at how you can optimize your office space for better productivity? Here are a few ideas on how you might do this.
Utilize Professional Office Design Services
Some interior designers specialize in commercial and office spaces. These are the designers that you would want to employ to design your office fit out.
You can also hire certain agencies to do entire office fit-outs for you. These agencies can plan, design, provide and install the office furniture for you.
When you opt for office fit-out services, you will not have to worry about finding a furniture manufacturer or supplier. It will all get done for you.
Increase Natural Lighting
Proper lighting is crucial for office environments. The wrong type of office lighting can cause eyestrain, fatigue, headaches and other ailments for your employees.
If your office does not have enough light, the dim surroundings can cause some degrees of depression and lack of productivity.
Better yet, opt for natural lighting by rearranging the seats. Allow sunlight into the office space in the morning and switch the office lights on when the natural lighting is starting to dim.
Organize Your Space
Have enough storage space for your employees, whether its desk drawers or extra racks. Clear all the clutter around the office to improve your employees’ focus on their tasks.
A good starting point is replacing your printed materials and paper documents with digital copies.
This eco-friendly measure will quickly rid paper clutter all around the office, and you will have fewer needs for stationery as well.
Maintaining Ideal Office Temperatures
This would be easy for someone working from a home office as they can control their room temperature to their liking.
However, where there is a shared office space, the ideal office temperature should be between 21-24 degrees. Ensure office temperature does not vary considerably.
Employees can then wear extra layers if they find the office too cold. Others may find this the perfect temperature for working in.
Creating Flexibility
Have a mix of shared working space and collaborative workspace within your office to provide more options for your employees. Different types of workspaces may be better suited for various tasks, moods, and focus levels.
Having a layout that fits both types of workspaces will also be useful for holding meetings, conference calls and any other discussions, so be sure to have multi-purpose office-fit-outs in your office plans.
Noise Pollution and Productivity
While you cannot control the outdoor noises that seep in through your office doors and windows, you can wear noise-canceling headphones to reduce some of the noise levels.
Noise-canceling headphones paired with background white-noise are often the right choice for reducing distractions as well as increasing focus and productivity at work.
The Importance of Color
A bland surrounding may inhibit new ideas, inspiration, or motivation. Add some splashes of colors to the office, be it through posters on the wall, or by painting an entire wall with your choice of colors.
You can also use your brand colours and spread them through the office. Colours like black and red will invoke feelings of power, while colours such as orange and blue could be more stimulating for the creatives.
Engage Staff in the Process
Sometimes, ideas for another project may pop up when you least expect it, or when you are busy with another on-hand task.
Rather than jumping straight into this newfound idea, how about writing it down on a notepad nearby? You can also pen down the idea on a whiteboard if you have one. Then, you can focus on your initial task and go back to the idea when time permits.
Others in the office can also have time to think and expand on your idea when it is visible in this way.
